06.13.10 - Chronicles: WPP: Day 9 - Cornwall Country - Taxicabs, Trains, and Iron Age Roundhouses ..: thomasrymour

thomasrymour

06.13.10 - Chronicles: WPP: Day 9 - Cornwall Country - Taxicabs, Trains, and Iron Age Roundhouses ..

Jun 13, 2010 23:20

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Iron Age Roundhouses at Saveok Mill

Early to rise with a train to catch at 8 am, I realized last night I would have a dilemma with getting to the Train Station in time because of the remote nature of Castle Horneck. The bus system on a Sunday in Penzance was not running as early as I needed, not to mention that the Castle was over a mile from the nearest bus stop and I was overburdened with a 17 kilo large frame backpack on my back with a 22 kilo napsack at my side. So I broke down on my 'tight' budget to arrange a cab for the morning. The cost wasn't too bad and well worth every pound (GBP). As the cabbie dropped me off at the Penzance Rail Station, I oddly noticed that the station had yet to open. No stress though for within 5 minutes the gates to the tracks were opened by an agent. A pleasant rail ride to Truro viewing over the beautiful Cornish countryside. Once in Truro, I hopped bus 26 to backtrack through Three Milestone and on to Green Bottom. It was a good thing I had Google Earth'd the entire journey in case I had to walk from Truro and observed the photo shots along the route because the bus driver was unfamiliar with the stop I needed to get off on. I pointed it out to him and started to follow the route down the road, off a side track, through the bush, and across the tracks. Before crossing the tracks on foot there was a phone in which to call the conductor to make sure it was safe to cross. It was, but nonetheless, I hurried across the tracks. Following the overgrown path on up to the fieldhouse, I met one of the other crew members who guided me to Jacqui the Director of Saveok Mill Archaeological Site.
I came to discover this remarkable site as I had become intriqued by the article published by Archaeology Magazine on the Excavation of the Cornwall Witches. Since my Master's Thesis and dissertation was on Modern Day Witchcraft, and I was very interested in the subject archaeologically, the opportunity to see actual Archaeological Evidence of Cornish Witchcraft was a very exciting thought. I made arrangements with Jacqui to come visit. I Originally intended on going in April, I wound up postponing and re-scheduling it for June as I was unsure what the funding situation would be with the archaeological lab I work for as we were threatened with layoff cutbacks. What I read about Jacqui was fascinating as well. I was very excited about this chance to meet her. Jacqui was an amazingly knowledgeable experimental archaeologist that radiated everything I read about her ... It wouldn't be hard to believe if she was currently the world's foremost authority on Prehistoric Cooking, one of the lead's for the world in Experimental Archaeology, and the creator of the first replica of the Orkney Hood in Britain and the Grass cloak for the Ice Man museum in Bolzano Italy. I was extremely excited for this opportunity to learn from her and see first hand her discoveries in her own backyard. Since my dissertion and thesis in graduate school was on modern day Witchcraft, I knew this site would give me some historical substance for my own independent research. Little did I know that I would also be learning how to make a Iron Age round house. Her local crew consisted of local students and Cornwall residents who were obviously very interested in her research and methodology. They all had great things to add and a pretty knowledgable assortment of folk. We spent the day building the round house by putting up the rafters and posts. In the afternoon we were disrupted by a bit of rain, the first I've seen of moisture in the skies since I arrived in England a few days ago. We moved our embracing discussions into the lab where we all got to know each other better. At the end of the field day, it was time to go check into my temporary lodging at the King's Head Pub in Chacewater as the Bed and Breakfast I would be staying at for the rest of the week did not have a room ready for me until tomorrow eve. The walk wasn't bad, within 20 minutes I was down in the neighboring village to Greenbottom called Chacewater. The room was nice and the staff friendly. The pub was filled with enthusiasts for the World Cup. Since watching sports on television absolutely bores me, as I'd be more entertained watching paint dry, I took a walk-about through the village in search of an ATM. Little did I know that my American VISA (debit) card did not have a 'CHIP' in it, so was completely useless at all other establishments I wandered into except for the pub where I was staying. There was also no business open with an ATM. So I couldn't get any food from the grocery store. Breaking the budget once again, I retired to the Pub for a Shrimp dish and a vodka tonic to cut the edge. I retired pretty early to my room as there was no internet or wireless to be found in Chacewater that I could connect to. I had a feeling I would not have internet access during my field session here.

The railroad tracks

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Train from Penzance Station with Views of St. Michael's Mount: